title: Osteoarticular involvement among 202 brucellosis cases identified in Central Anatolia region of Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The musculoskeletal system is one of the most commonly affected systems in brucellosis. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency, types, and clinical features of osteoarticular involvement among cases with brucellosis in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey and to establish the differences between patients with and without osteoarticular involvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included in this study were 202 patients with Brucellosis presented between June 2003 and June 2009. The diagnosis of osteoarticular system complications was established by physical examination and radiological findings obtained by diagnostic imaging tools. Magnetic resonance images of thoracic, lumbar or sacral vertebrae were acquired from patients with back pain, low back pain and sacro-iliac joint pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Osteoarticular involvement was noted in 94 patients (46.5%). The most common sources of infection are employment in farming and/or consumption of un-pasteurized milk or dairy products, especially fresh cheese in 53 (75.7%) cases. The mean age is 46.7±18 years. Sacroiliitis is the most frequent osteoarticular involvement (60.6%), 82.4% of which is bilateral. Sacroiliitis was followed by spondylodiscitis in 36 (38.3%), peripheral arthritis in 15 (16%), bursitis in 1(1.1%) case. Patients with osteoarticular involvement received medical treatment for at least three months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ratio and anatomical region of osteoarticular involvement in brucellosis show variability among countries. In this study, it is demonstrated that sacroiliitis is the most common form of osteoarticular involvement in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. In endemic countries such as Turkey, this disease should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients with symptoms of sacroiliitis, spondylodiscitis or those with articular pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey. turanhale@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hale
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.forename: Kivanc
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Serefhanoglu
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karadeli
authors.forename: Turhan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Togan
authors.forename: Hande
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents